FKT: Jenny Lievois - Crest Trail #130 (Sandia Mtns, NM) - 2024-09-27

Athletes
Route variation
out & back
Multi-sport
No
Gender category
Female
Style
Unsupported
Start date
Finish date
Total time
16h 30m 29s
GPS track(s)
Report

I set out from the Canyon Estates trailhead at 6am on Friday, September 27th heading North on the Crest Trail #130 alone and carrying everything I would need for the 52 mile trek to the Tunnel Springs trailhead and back. My first water stop was intended to be the spigot on the back of the ski lift building at the tram, but there were trucks blocking the way to the spigot and some construction. So, I opted to fill my bottles at the water fountain at the public restrooms below the tram. I filled two and a half liters and continued on my way along the North Crest and down to the Tunnel Springs trailhead, which I reached approximately 7.5 hours into my journey. It was very hot at that point in the day. I refilled my two and a half liters there as well as doused my shirt, hat, and bandana in the cool spring, and splashed water on my limbs to cool my body temp. Feeling refreshed I set out on the return journey back up the North Crest Trail. I quickly became very hot again and started to feel dehydrated, but I was able to ration my water and made it back to the tram. At this point the public restrooms and drinking fountain were closed for cleaning, but the construction had stopped for the day. So, I opted to fill my two and a half liters from the spigot on the back of the ski lift building. About and hour and a half after leaving the tram it became dark, and the going was very slow through the overgrown trail on the crest to the South Crest descent. I reached the Canyon Estates trailhead at 10:30pm and was greeted by my boyfriend who gave me a ride home. I carried all of my gear, nutrition, and trash for the entirety of the trip, and only filled my water from three public sources - the drinking fountain, the spring at the Tunnel Springs trailhead, and the spigot on the back of the ski lift building. I did not receive any support of any kind along the way, and only saw a handful of people throughout the trip mostly concentrated at the tram. This trail is incredibly rugged and much of it overgrown. It's not a route I'll be eager to repeat.